Wow, Thanks for the tour you all did a great job, wonderful pictures. It's been awhile since I have been to Longwood and the last time I was there was for the Christmas show. That is really a sight to see.
Wish I could have joined you all, looks like everyone had a wonderful day. Thanks Chris for the link.
longwood trip
We who live in the area tend to take Longwood for granted. I try to get there at least every other year. For a return trip, it would be worth calling to find out when the delphiniums are in bloom. They have them up to 6' tall. A site not to be missed.
I assume they weren't in bloom or someone surely would have posted a photo.
The Christmas shows are spectacular. All of the elementary and middle schools in the surrounding counties enter decorated Christmas trees in a contest. Such originality from children! There are wonderful light shows and marvelous caroling.
For those willing to invest a weekend, about 5 miles south over the Delaware border is the other great Dupont estate Museam, Winterthur. It is a hugh estate that houses the country's largest collection of American decorative arts. It is also a university for those pursuing careers in Museam curating. The grounds are also beautiful and there is a wonderful little train to ride through the gardens. There are also bus tours of the grounds, which were planted specifically for winter interest.
Wind, if your still looking, our Lowes has Mahonias for about 40% of the Nursery prices. Check out the Lowes in your area.
Stormy, I don't remember seeing the delphiniums, I'm sure I would have remembered them as I am always trying to get some to grow a bloom for me, one of my favorites!
They did have some very tall Foxgloves at the enterance. Did anyone get a picture of them? Maybe Ruby did.
I may be heading to Longwood on Monday, meeting up with my in-laws who are touring that area with a group from NC next week (they'll be at Winterthur on Tuesday). It looks like it's going to be brutally hot... Is it cooler and pleasant inside the conservatory areas, or does the under-glass portion of Longwood turn into a total sauna in hot weather? Just wondering what to expect...
The orchid room and the succulent room in the conservatory was really stifling and it was a beautiful day with no humidity.
Jill, be sure to take your camera, and if you get into the water lily display, it opened in June, take some pics for me. I was hoping to see the Victoria water lilies, I guess they get so large that you could stand in them and not sink.
Chris
Oh, if I get there not to worry... my camera will be clicking away!!
Did you all see the "Go Gardening" Post mand it's winners on the drop-down window on your Home page?
I sure think we all could have done a very competitive posting about Longwood Gareds.
I, like maybe many others here, do not pay any particular attention to the listings of "things" just above the "Articles" list every day.
Please, check it out!
Gita
Finally nailing down what to write and going through the posted pictures. (next to )Last chance anybody who objects to my using one of your pictures please dmail me and I won't. I am trying to use at least one from everybody who posted. Also have some of my own. On the other hand, I hope no one gets offended if I don't end up with one of yours in the article.
Yes Chris, I was surprised that no one had taken pictures of the waterlilies. They are HUGE, the pads 3ft across or larger maybe 5ft. Maybe I need to run down and see them. It's been so long since I was there in the summer when they are blooming. The last three trips were twice to the Christmas display and once to the Fall Mum display.
Holly, If the waterlily display was open I'm sure somone would have taken pictures. It opened in June so we were 3 weekends ahead of schedule.
Jen did post her picture of the stair waterfall, here is mine, I knew I had to get this shot when I saw it on a Longwood site.
Gita, Thanks for the Go Gardening post, I went to the Longwood entry and saw there was only 2 reviews (Now there is 3) and 0 pictures. Well, I fixed that. I only posted 1 pic so far but might post more, didn't want to hog the photo shoots.
Chris
Holly,
I believe the Water Lily display was to (eventually) go to the BIG flooded area, with the tile floor underneath, that was just "there' in the main entrance area. When we were there, there was nothing much on the floor--just huge HB's of Fuschia above.
Somehow, I remember seeing somewhere that this is where they were going to have the Water Lily display......not sure......
Did anyone take a picture of the flooded floor??????
Gita
I'm sure they will have quite a display but the really huge lilies are in concrete ponds outside near the conservatory. It's been so long but I remember walking out one of the conservatory doors into a courtyard. They were really impressive.
Gita, I got part of the floor I think you are referring to, I can't imagine how they could display water lilies in there but then again I'm still in ahh of the place.
Edited after a search, the waterlilies are outside. Scrool down to the bottom of the page on their site. Here is a link http://www.longwoodgardens.org/Orangery_1_3_2_4_1_1.html
This message was edited Jun 6, 2008 9:41 PM
All those outdoor ponds were empty I was wondering what was going on there.
Critterologist, It's hot inside of the conservatory even at Christmas. Take lots of water. Mary
Flowerjen, Those outdoor ponds have been empty for several years. Apparently they need some major structural work inside of the Waterworks.I had heard that they were getting conflicting engineering reports and were not at a stage to begin any repairs, but that was 2 or 3 years ago. Did you all have a guide for your tour?
Last spring, the large round fountain out front had the bottom circle planted all in Blue Grape hyacinth's interspersed with brilliant orange tulips throughout. It was gorgeously simple, but spectacular and just made me happy to look at it!!!!
We didn't have a guide...gives us an excuse to go back. :)
I think there was a sign that the WL ponds would be open soon. Am guessing the big huge pads aren't grown until summer.
Critter: Hope you have a wonderful time at Longwood Gardens! Prepare for the heat, go early in the morning, find shady spots to rest and drink LOTS of water! We're all looking forward to seeing your pictures because so much changes from month to month. That's why it's worth visiting Longwood Gardens several times a year!
Sad to say, the heat may cause me to wimp out. I've got an ice pack on my head today, trying to keep a migraine at bay -- the heat just seems to make them worse, and a migraine would sure cut down my enjoyment of visiting the folks at the garden. Phoo. I'm feeling doubly bad because Terri (such a sweetie!) was all set to jump in the car and go with me! Maybe I can get some photos from my MIL... better yet, maybe Terri and I can find a day with friendlier weather and go another time, and then I can compare notes with my in-laws. :-)
When do water lilies bloom?
I'm sorry you're having a migraine. You definitely want to stay out of the heat & the sun. I believe that next week the temperatures will be in the 80's. At least it's a little bit cooler.
I'm not sure when the water lilies bloom, but Longwood's Rose Garden should be magnificent this month.
I'm better today, but still keeping out of the heat and bright sun, so tomorrow is a no go... :-( But I think both Terri & Sally were interested in going there another time, so maybe we'll pick a (slightly) cooler day and go enjoy the roses and the water lilies!
I need to get my MIL a subscription so she can post on this & other forums... actually, first I need to get her playing with her new laptop more the next time we see them so she's more comfortable surfing the web at will. :-)
So sorry to hear you are feeling poorly Jill, perhaps you will get up there another time. Steve and I are going for the July 4 weekend, not sure what the weather will be but sure it will be crowded, good thing we can spread out!
I'm better again, but the heat just kicked me! I'm sure I'll get up there another time, especially as I think I've got a couple of DG buddies who might be convinced to keep me company. :-)
Today, my in-laws are headed for Winterthur! I'm sure they're having a blast. We got a couple of calls from them yesterday (at rest stops), and it sounds like they've got a great group of folks and are enjoying their trip. :-)
Critter, When you are ready to come up please let me know. Since I missed this trip it would be nice to get a second chance.
OK... I think we need to find out when their water lily collection will be in bloom! :-)
Hi all-
As promised. have just gotten approval for my article. I sure hope you all like it. Here it is, minus many pictures that appear. I used 2-3 pictures from each person who posted pictures here.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~~~Spring has been frustratingly cool and wet this year for most of the Mid Atlantic region, but happily there was warm sun on May 17th, 2008. That was the day a bunch of Dave’s Garden Mid-Atlantic Forum members met to tour Longwood Gardens in Kennett Square Pennsylvania. A jovial gang of green thumbs and friends discovered that Longwood Gardens has something to appeal to any gardener. Read here for an overview and plan your own visit.
Gardening picture
The dim days of February had a lot of us pining for spring when one snowbound Pennsylvania resident proposed a group tour of Longwood Gardens. Longwood is a premier destination for travelers who love gardens. The Longwood website here gives a detailed history of the place. Briefly, the Pierce farming family started planting an arboretum on this site in 1798. Intense development of the gardens began in 1908. That's when wealthy Pierre S. du Pont bought the land and made it his personal horticultural playground. Now visitors can enter any day of the year to experience acres of formal gardens, water features, mature woodlands and many different specialty plant collections.
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Blue skies, green grass and flowers of every hue greeted our group of twelve. How do you see it all in one day? (You can't.) We headed first for the Flower Garden Walk. Ancient wisterias pruned like huge bonsais amazed us all. Out came the digital cameras for the first of countless stunning closeups, landscape shots and group photos.
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Passing the Small Lake, we found one of the just finished Nature's Castles, with a gorgeous view of the Large Lake. This "Canopy Cathedral" combined rustic construction of reclaimed lumber with charming details, giving it the feel of a meditative retreat in the trees.
ImageNext on the route was the Italian Water Garden, one of four major fountain-based features on site. It's just the place to have you dreaming of or reminiscing about Rome.
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Then the group headed uphill past the sunny Meadow and the second Nature's Castle, surrounded by a stand of massive Liriodendron tulipfera, Tulip-trees. We all gained new respect for those towering specimens-suitable only for the biggest of big backyards!
ImageA couple of hours on foot had us hungry and thirsty and a bit tired. Some toured the Pierce- du Pont House and found it fascinating ("Imagine, a silver safe!, and an electric towel dryer from 1911"), while others rested outside. Incredibly, the house cat dozes on a wicker chair while dozens of tourists roam past and photograph him. (See him at the end of the article.)
There's so much more to see. We stayed on site for lunch in the Terrace Restaurant. It's a busy place around noon, but with a choice of cafeteria line or sit-down service, plus outdoor grilling going on, we all soon found a tasty lunch and adjacent tables for comparing notes.
fter lunch we visited the Conservatory. "Extensive" doesn't even begin to accurately describe the scale of the indoor facility or the extent of the plantings found within. In fact, if you were only allowed a couple of hours at Longwood, the conservatory would give you a lot of visual bang for your walking buck. In one huge room, an emerald lawn is surrounded with flowers from floor to ceiling. Various wings and attached greenhouses hold breathtaking collections of orchids, succulents and cacti, tropicals, roses, ferns and large water features.
When we finally got our fill, we found seats on the terrace and watched
the hourly Main Fountain display.main fountains
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What could possibly be left to explore after all this? Even with feet swelling and camera batteries dying, we couldn't bypass the Idea Garden, a demonstration area for all kinds of flowers, herbs, fruits and vegetables for home gardens. After the mind-blowing conservatory displays we appreciated seeing plants as we might actually use them ourselves.
ImageAre we done yet? Oh, no. While the most tired of us headed for the exit, a hardy few took the scenic woodland route out, past the Chimes Tower and Waterfall. You could imagine yourself in Europe standing at the base of this impressive stone tower.
It was close to the six o'clock closing time when the last four of us headed for the parking lot. Apple fritters waiting in the car were our delicious blood -sugar boosting reward for the long day of walking, talking and taking pictures. Image
We couldn't view Longwood entirely in one day. The main Flower Garden Walk, Pierce's Woods and a third treehouse were among the sites we'll have to catch next time. On top of that, there will be the flowers and plants who reach their full glory at other times of year, like summer's water lilies or fall's chrysanthemums. Nor did we take advantage of one of the many special events held throughout the year. There's already some chat at Mid Atlantic Forum about the need for another excursion to Longwood.
Given that any visit to Longwood Gardens will be a Dave's Gardener's delight, here are some details to help you plan your tour. See the website for much more information.
Photo credits--all photographs used were taken by me or the generous members of the Mid-Atlantic forum or friends present at the event, and used with their gracious permission. Thank you, Mid-Atlantic! I hope I did it justice. For Dave's Garden subscribers, many more gorgeous photos are posted on the longwood trip thread in the Mid-Atlantic regional forum.
flowerjen- first group photo, Pierce-du Pont House, orchid, cat
Gitagal- tree trunks, fern, Main fountains, (and apple fritters!)
ladygardener1- Chimes tower, final group photo (and getting us all there in the first place!)
Shirley1_MD- Italian water garden, begonia foliage
wind- vegetable gardens, Clivia
Good job, Sally! When will it be published?
Can't wait!
Thank you for doing this. Longwood Gardens should give you a goft card for all this free publicity!
Gita
Great job, I can't wait to see it with all the pictures.
*boasting* I got a preview! It's lovely.
:-)
I scheduled it to run Friday June 20th- Thanks!!!
Sally--YOU get to schedule WHEN the article runs???????
Not like dave would say to you--"Well, let me know when I can squeeze you in..."....Just like a Dr.
Such "power".....You go, Girl!
writers all have this power with Dave. There's a calendar with up to six slots for each day so once he says its approved, you can pick any empty one you like. It's kew-ell, fer sherr. Fridays seem to stay open so I'm tending to just see that as my Day.
I like having a "regular" day, because it motivates me to keep writing so that I can put an article on the schedule each Thursday! I get an occasional extra one in, too. The schedule was "light" over the weekend, so I put one in on Sunday... right now, it's an article on roses, but I may swap it out for the one I'm just finishing up on cherry pie (more "seasonal).
Gita, since we don't have an editor, and since our publisher (Dave) is pretty busy with other things, a lot of things that an editor/publisher would ordinarily do (like scheduling articles, and proofreading, and technical assistance, and etc.) ends up getting handled by the writers, both individually and as a group. That's why we've got our own forum. We pair up to proofread each other's articles, we try to coordinate topic coverage, you'd be amazed at what a group effort the articles are. Then again, maybe you wouldn't be surprised at all... group efforts are pretty typical for our DG community! :-)
So if anybody has been thinking about writing for DG but has hesitated because you think you have to be a professional writer, or you think you might need a little help getting started... just jump right in, the water's fine! Dmail Dave and let him know a little about you and what you might be writing about, tell him you want to write articles (don't just say "maybe," be definite), and he'll link you to the forum where you'll find links to the contract (yes, there's a contract, and we get paid $50 per article) and all other necessary info.
edited to add... I didn't mean to get this thread so off-topic! If you've got any questions about writing for DG, please Dmail Sally or me (or Dave)... :-)
This message was edited Jun 13, 2008 4:38 PM
Sally, I can't wait for June 20th, It will be a great article with the pictures.
I hope I can copy it to paper so I can show the girls at work.